Rotary plow



C. A. CLELAND ROTARY PLOW Filed Dec. 17, 1945 July 19, 1949.

Patented July 19, 1949 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY PLOW CharlesA. Cleland, Batavia, l'll.

Application December 17, 1945, Serial No. 635,470

, 3 Claims. `vl

The present invention relates to a rotary-type of plow deviceor machinehaving a plurality of plow assemblies arranged in rank and each assemblyhaving a plurality of plow units so arranged that a unit of an assemblywill operate or be actuated in succession to a corresponding unit of anadjacent assembly, or, in other words, in staggered time relation.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel device ofthecharacter mentioned whereby aplurality of plow assemblies are operated`or actuated, as rotated, about a shaft suitably driven frozn a tractoror like means, or from power means on` a tractoror the like, whilecausingthe plow device or machine, as a whole, to travel over the groundto be plowed or tilled, there being suitable means for supporting theshaft and assemblies associated therewith, for such travel, eachassembly having supporting means connected toA the shaft and to the plowunits to operate or actuate them, and each unit having a plow share orscoop-like member so connected or mounted Yas to be automaticallyoperated or actuated, as ,by centrifugal force or otherwise, by poweroperated means, together with means for limiting the extent or range ofactuation of the share when dumping or kicking the plowed material, suchas humus or the like, and soil, and means also for closing the dumpingor kicking part of the plow share during the plowing action and untilthe plow share reaches the position for the dumping or kicking eifect.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel plow share, anovel means for supporting the plow share, a novel means for limitingthe actuation of the plow share, and a novel means for closing the rearor trailing end of the plow share during the plowing operation and foropening after the plowing action for dumping or kicking the plowedmaterial.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities, features, and the like arecomprehended by the invention as will later appear, and as areinherently possessed by the invention.

Referring brieiiy to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional and part side view in elevation of anassembly constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in a plane represented by line2-2 in Fig. 1 of the drawings; and,

Fig. 3 is a somewhat general and part top plan view of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the

shown as having a frame or chassis or the like I, having suitable frameparts or brace members 2, a hitch part 3, suitably carried on a wheeledsupport 4, and wheels 5 adapted to ride on the ground, the parts 3 beingsuitably hitched to a drafting means such as a tractor'or the like (notshown).

In the frame part I is suitably rotatably mounted a shaft 6 to any pointof which, as at an end thereof, may be fixed a driven member 'I of anysuitable kind, such as a pulley or sprocket wheel or the like, that maybe suitably driven, as from the tractor or a power unit on the tractor,or otherwise, as desired. l

, On the shaft 6 to turn or rotate therewith are a plurality of plowassemblies arranged in gang or rank, and each assembly has a supportingframe or rotor 8, whichmay be of spider or similar form, havingcounterpart members S extending radially or similarly, of which each hasa hub part III ixed to a collar or the like II, in turn suitably xed tothe shaft Ii. To the outer ends of the members 9 are extensions I2vwhich are laterally spaced as shown in Fig. 2. To the outer sides ofthe extensions I2 are secured side frames I3 which may be of any desiredform, as polygonal, and each having segments I4 to extend transverselyof the extensions I2v and to be secured thereto by any suitable means,such as pins, rivets, bolts,screws, or the like I5. Extending outwardlyfrom the frames I3 or arms i6 to which are secured closure members I1,as plates, to act as closure members for the rear or trailing ends ofthe plow shares or scoop-like members I8 later described, each closuremember I1 being suitably fixed at its outer end to the outer end of theextension or arm I6 and at its inner end to a rearwardly extendingportion of an adjacently conncctedframe segment I 4.

To the outer ends of the extensions I2 are connected or secured sleevesI9 which extend across the space between each pair of opposed extensionsI2, as shown in Fig. 2, and in these sleeves I9 are pivot pins or shafts2U, fixed, in any suitable way, to the sides 2| of the plow shares I8 sothat the latter may have a turning movement relative to the sleeves I9and extensions I2.

Each plow share I8 has a curved bottom 22, the leading end 23 of whichis beveled or sharp like a knife edge to readily cut into the straw,humus or like material on or in the surface portion of the ground to betilled or plowed. The bottom 22, is so curved that its trailing endportion will be nearer the axis of the shaft 6 so that as the plowembodiment selected to illustrate the invention is share is rotatedabout the axis of the shaft 6 and also travels, as shown by the arrowY28, to cut into the top material 24, such trailing portion 'of thebottom 22 will clear the cut or plowed part actuation of the device, aswhen plowing the" material 24, will be closed by the closure .plate I1.The forward ends of the side Walls 2l prefspirit of'therinvention.

erably have cut-back or slanted portions 1.25

which may or may not be beveled to aid in cutv ting into the material 24on the'soil.

On intervening parts of the extensions :I2 l provided stops 21, whichmay be inthe form Yof pins, screws, studs, 0 1 the like, for theabutting thereagainst of the. edges O f .thesides 2| of the shares I8when the shares .I are swung or .actuated about the shaft .20,'aslllaterexplained. v ".Flrie devicegenerallyis caused to 'travel relative to theground Ain the'direction of the arrow 28, as shown in Fig. 1, thetractor drafting the device being hitched ahead or forwardly ofthedevice to Pull ordraw itin the direction of said arrow 2Lil. v

The plow .assemblies carryingthe shares i8 rotate about the axis of theshaft 'I5 in a direction that when the share .I8 cuts into .the material2 4, its travel is then in the opposite direction `of the travel of thedevice as a whole in the direction of the arrow 2 8. The plow share 8willthen be are assemblyl it is torbe understood'that any other I numbermay be used as desired orfound convenient. It will be notedthattheassemblies are so arranged in rank that a plow share of oneassembly will be in oiset or staggered relation to a correspondingrplow'share of Vthe adjacent assemblyso that the plowing action in thematerial 24 will be in succession across the rank of the assemblies,which is clear from Fig. 3.

' While Ijhavehereindescribed Eand upon the drawings shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thattheV in- 'ivention is not limited thereto but comprehends Y otherconstructions, details, arrangements of parts, and the like, withoutdeparting from the Having thus disclosed the invention,I claim: 1. I-nva rotaryplow devicerof the characterdisclosed havinga Yrotatable memberfor carrying a plow assembly to rotate therewith: aY plow assembly framehaving arms extending .outwardly from the rotatable member and .carriedtoro'tatet'heref with, and cross pieces' connect'efdlto said'arms andhaving connections toeach other ior coinv-` pleting the frame structure,.each of saidlarins` having` at thefouter end thereof means for pivot; Y

ally supporting a` plow .s'hare'aplow share 'having means for pivotal'connectionto said outer fend V of said-arm, a `closure member for .eac-hplowl share and carried 'by end portions 'of :said/cross piecesA Yasjjare 'connected to' eachother and' locatiedto close the plow'sha'rewhen the plo'wfshare is lop:

erating inmaterial to lclelpl'owed and to .open the Jsfamewhen `the plowshare is movedupward over in closed. condition, that is, Withitsrearortrail7 ing .Open end 25 in closing Contact with the clef Sure plate I 'Iand -Will be held slo closed as the share I8 is cutting ,through thematerial. (see 20 and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, v eX- cept theplow share L8 `that is ,cutting through the` material 24 (see the bottomof Fig, 1). When the plow share I8 leaves the material 24 (see dottedline position at lower rightfhand l portion of Eig. l) the .centrifugalforce ,will 'cause .the share I8 to open, .as bygturning about the Vaxisofthe pivot shaft .2 0, to the limit oi 'thotop pins 21 by the abuttingof the edges of the side Walls 2l thereagainst, whereby the material `inthe plow share will b e dumped or kicked so that the material .will bedeposited with the humus'or the like under and the Soil 4and the like.upon it, .upon the ground, as shown at the lower right-hand por? tionof Fig, `1. When the ,rotation of the shaft 6 is slow the shares I8 mayhave the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 1'.

While I have shown four plow shares I8 in each Number the `just"v'previously plowed and dumped material; i andmeans on saidf'arm'inwardlyjof the 'plowy share to limitthelopening'o saidplow,'.sliaregfA '2. 'In a device as sjet forth in claim il., `and in which.the plow share has spaced side walls, and

in which saidmeans forY pivotally supporting th plOW Share isjnthe-sidewalls ofthe plowshznte. 3; In a device Vasset forth vin .claim1.and wherein .said stop means is located v.toengzuge .the side walls ofsaid plow share.

lR'Eilel'nirions CITED y The following references are of le o fthis-patenti; l, f

record the UNITED STATES PnrENrs France une Aug. .24,1 192e

